"So, this is the silver waterfall," Verra smiled lightly as she stared at the liquid metal falling from the cliff into a pool, then flowing down a stream, disappearing behind the shrubbery of the giant forest. Next to the waterfall was a clearing occupied by tents, open pit fires, and brown-haired, 15th tall men going about their business.
Xasha and his group stood a thousand feet above the forest, looking down. He was amazed that an entire army was stationed a few thousand feet above these men, yet they did not even seem to notice. He looked down at a few shadows flitting over and went out to meet them.
"Ash, this is Mulinpo. He's a friend of mine and also the proxy leader of our Mu people. I told him everything that happened," Mulou introduced.
"I can't thank you enough for your benevolence. My people are grateful to you," Mulinpo spoke in appreciation as she shook Xasha's hand.
"Don't mention such things. Brother Mu is an honorable man. I am just doing a favor for a friend. We have things to gain from this as well. We will take control of the other two territories, and I will need an ally in the future. We will work together, we will help each other out, and we will become stronger together. What do you say?" Xasha had a friendly smile on his face.
"Of course, my Mu people would be happy to have you, Ash, and your friends as our allies," Mulindo said as he glanced at Axia over Xasha's shoulder.
Xasha noticed his subtle actions but only smiled lightly in response. He understood what this was. They were both using each other. As long as he got what he wanted, he didn't mind them having some benefits as well.
"Come with me," Mulindo said. He headed for the camp. "I will take you to your friends."
The group landed on the ground of the camp. All the Mu people stopped what they were doing to look at the newcomers with intrigued eyes. The atmosphere in the camp was sullen. They had just learned that their chieftain was dead, and their clan would be in deep trouble. However, a benefactor had shown up and offered them protection from danger and asked for nothing in return but friendship.
Seeing the people who would lend their strength to protect total strangers, the Mu people did not know how to feel. They were half grateful for these people and half skeptical. There were no such good things in this world as benevolent strangers showing up to protect them for decades, free of cost.
Xasha and the team leaders followed Mulou and Mulindo to the back of the camp, where they saw a few square structures covered by a large tarp. Mulindo walked over and pulled off the tarp, revealing a large cage with his friends huddled up inside. Mulindo took out a key and opened the cage, but none of the prisoners tried to leave.
Xasha looked at them huddled up together in a corner, and his heart ached. They were in a weakened state and did not look healthy at all. He hopped inside the cage, and the moment he did, he realized what weakened them. This cage was devoid of imperium, his friends were suffering from imperium deficiency. He quickly picked them all up and took them outside. They got to work placing them on beds and feeding them potions to stabilize their conditions. They were all unconscious and needed time to recover.
"What is this cage? What is it made of, and how long did you have them in there?" Xasha looked to Mulindo with eyes filled with killing intent.
Mulindo seemed frightened after seeing the look in Xasha's eyes, but he was not afraid of Xasha. Instead, he glanced at Axia, who was chatting with Ari by the side. "I am sorry. They were trespassers, and we were at war. Usually, we would have killed them on the spot, but they seemed so different that we decided to take them home and find out their origin. We did not mistreat them. We placed them in the prison cage after they rebelled and tried to escape. We did not mistreat them, and we did not know these were your people. We had them for weeks now, but..."
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"It's okay," Ari walked over and held her father's hand. "We did not know each other, and they are all alive. That's what is important."
"Do you have any idea what Mana deficiency does to the body? They could suffer a fate way worse than death." Xasha flashed away her hand and walked away.
Ari glanced at Mulindo. "Thread carefully. Underestimating my father will cost you your life." She turned away and went back to Axia.
Mulindo looked at Ari's retreating back and scuffed under his breath.
They erected a giant hall within the hour, and the captured humans were resting and being taken care of inside. There were mansions constructed, and the newcomers moved in, feeling comfortable.
The Mu people looked at them strangely. These people had constructed an entire city within an hour and did it so casually as if it had been done a million times before. Their auras were all weak other than the green-haired girl, the strongest among them were all first flame Lava Sages. Yet, they were so confident and showed no fear or respect like those of weaker cultivation should.
Smokestacks climbed to the edge of the forest, from meat being roasted on the open fire. Everyone sat around the camp chatting up the storm. The two groups were getting to know each other.
In the main building, Xasha stood by Saxon, whose red hair had grown longer. He had a stern look on his clean-shaven face, but nobody thought it strange.
The other raid team leaders sat around the room, looking at him in anticipation. It was complete silence. Saxon looked up after a while, "we can't attack the Elves first. Word may travel fast, and we will tip them off to our presence. Vice versa, we can't attack the Low people first either. We will wipe out the elves completely, but that might not be the same for the Lows," Saxon sighed.
"Our best option is to launch simultaneous attacks, quick in and out. But we only have sixty raid teams here. I fear our strength and numbers will be insufficient. We have Axia, but she cannot be in two places at the same time. I'm not sure we have what it takes to take both territories."
Xasha sat back, "that is not necessarily the truth, the strongest person in those two territories are second flames. I can handle second flames."
"You don't know that they can have defenses ready or a secret expert that to protect their home. You could be marching to your death," Saxon rebutted.
"I also have a secret expert protecting me. I'll be fine. I will lead the attack on the elves while you take Axia and take control of the Lows," Xasha instructed.
"No, Verra will take the Lows. I'm coming with you to kill the Elves," Saxon declared.
"I have no objections, but I'm not moving until El wakes up," said Verra.
"None of us are leaving until they wake up. We will all go to the Mu territory first and secure that place. We will branch out to the other territories from there," Alexi interjected.
"What will we do until they wake up? Stay here or go back to the outpost?" Stephan asked.
"We will all stay and train here. We are adjusting to the new environment and need time. Plus, the atmosphere is unique. We need to continue testing how our spells and vlasts react in this new environment, especially those who just came. We will be learning to control and manipulate Imperium all over again. Choir will be responsible. Felix and I will keep investigating that silver river and this forest."
"Ash, you think there is something special about that river?" Don Avon asked.
"Well, it's a liquid metal that is at room temperature running like water through a forest full of thousand feet tall trees. If that is not special, I don't know what is," Responded Xasha.
"That's not what I mean. Can we use it for cultivation or potion making or artifacts?"
Xasha looked at the red and white haired Don Avon and chuckled, "I hope so."
"Let's end this meeting here. We can't make any more decisions without more knowledge. We all have work to do and investigations to conduct. Right now, you all should order your men, befriend the Mu people and learn all you can about the cultivation world. Everything from names of places to the latest gossip, report everything you all learn to me. Dismissed." Verra instructed as she stood to her feet and left the room.